The documentary film is named Coal Country and was directed by Mari-Lynn Evans and released in 2009.
2.What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main argument of the film concerns the situation of the coal industry and its effects on the environment, politics, the judicial system, economy, and way of life. The coal industry is not sustainable for several reasons. People need to take action; however, in order to make a significant change, one would have to reconstruct the entire industry. This film encourages this movement into supporting a greener future for the world.
3.What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
The main sustainability issue is the environmental effects that mountain top removal and the coal industry have on our earth. The visual destruction of the land due to the strip mining is remarkable. The streams and rivers that are near these sites are heavily polluted as the water color is literally black from the coal ash. This industry is poisoning the surrounding area’s water supply. Wildlife and habitats are destroyed and never fully recovered. Another sustainability problem is the legal system concerning the laws regulating the coal industry. For instance, there was a permit that allowed coal companies to “fill” in nearby rivers and streams that lay in the valleys of the mountain tops they were removing. However, Judge Haden supported the Clean Water Act from U.S. Congress that created a buffer zone which protected streams. However, there was a huge uprising against this ruling and eventually, the government appealed and the court overruled the decision. This is only an example of several other legal situations. Corporations are another problem as they support the coal industry. Citibank invests in several coal companies, which in turn take advantage of the region they reside in. Another sustainability issue is politics. Politicians support the coal industry even if they are against it in order to gain votes and win elections. This is absurd that our politicians can do such a thing as they can see the health issues that this industry has caused on the surrounding area such as heart, lung, and gall bladder problems.
4.What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
What I found interesting was the labor issues that have risen in the coal industry. Normally, these companies were heavily against unions. Sure, there have been several cases in which workers have protested, but they have been unsuccessful due to the fact that the coal industry has control over the union. Another part that this film compelled me was the health problems that have resulted from the environment. One activist researched the amount of coal deaths in one area a year and it was in result in 500 deaths a year. Another big issue that the coal industry has introduced is the greening of coal. They have suggested CO2 compression and injection underground. However, there is major controversy if this method would really work or if it would create another environmental issue.
5.What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
The one part of the film that I was not convinced by was the statement that several activists were trying to change the way lobbyists do their jobs. The way lobbyists conduct their business will not change entirely, and think they over-exaggerated. Also, another part of the film brought up the issue of reclamation. The film suggested that this was not efficient and really didn’t restore the area’s environment. I do agree that the mining is detrimental, and that reclamation doesn’t bring it back the way it used to be. However, I do think it makes the best of a bad situation. The mountain begins to grow trees and vegetation once again.
6.What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I want to dig deeper into the greener coal mining technologies that the film suggested. I would much rather see a increasing influence and economical power in alternative energy sources than continuing the 50% of the total energy consumption of the United States from the coal industry. However, I am curious as to what these greener coaling options propose. There is significant controversy over the methods, so I would like to go further in the research in order to develop an opinion for myself.
7.What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
The film addresses the high school students onward. This is because these age groups can be involved in the coal industry as well as in the fight against it. As shown in the film, people of these ages were taking up the fight against the coal industry one way or another. College students were protesting against Citibank as full grown adults were protecting the environments in their backyards by lobbying, and starting or joining movements. I think the film will somewhat change how the viewers will act towards environmental problems. This only pertains to the coal industry, and I feel that people that aren’t directly affected by the coal industry will do much after seeing this movie. It will raise their awareness, but I don’t feel it will allow them to take a course of action.
8.What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
There were several acts or interventions suggested by the film. One was to encourage the use of other alternative technologies. As the more popular these technologies become, the more the economy will support them and encourage them. This would directly decrease the size of the coal industry. Another intervention was to fight against the companies by either lobbying, protesting, or going to the unions. By gaining political support, we can ensure that the legal system will have decisions in favor of the environment and other sustainability issues. Greener coal mining technologies were also suggested, but represented the big controversy on whether or not these methods are effective and beneficial.
9.What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
I think by discussing more in detail about what problems arise in the environmental issues would increase the film’s environmental education. The film never went into depth about the effects that these mining operations had on the earth. Maybe they could give more specific examples.
Coal Country
1. Title, director and release year?
The documentary film is named Coal Country and was directed by Mari-Lynn Evans and released in 2009.
2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main argument of the film concerns the situation of the coal industry and its effects on the environment, politics, the judicial system, economy, and way of life. The coal industry is not sustainable for several reasons. People need to take action; however, in order to make a significant change, one would have to reconstruct the entire industry. This film encourages this movement into supporting a greener future for the world.
3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
The main sustainability issue is the environmental effects that mountain top removal and the coal industry have on our earth. The visual destruction of the land due to the strip mining is remarkable. The streams and rivers that are near these sites are heavily polluted as the water color is literally black from the coal ash. This industry is poisoning the surrounding area’s water supply. Wildlife and habitats are destroyed and never fully recovered. Another sustainability problem is the legal system concerning the laws regulating the coal industry. For instance, there was a permit that allowed coal companies to “fill” in nearby rivers and streams that lay in the valleys of the mountain tops they were removing. However, Judge Haden supported the Clean Water Act from U.S. Congress that created a buffer zone which protected streams. However, there was a huge uprising against this ruling and eventually, the government appealed and the court overruled the decision. This is only an example of several other legal situations. Corporations are another problem as they support the coal industry. Citibank invests in several coal companies, which in turn take advantage of the region they reside in. Another sustainability issue is politics. Politicians support the coal industry even if they are against it in order to gain votes and win elections. This is absurd that our politicians can do such a thing as they can see the health issues that this industry has caused on the surrounding area such as heart, lung, and gall bladder problems.
4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
What I found interesting was the labor issues that have risen in the coal industry. Normally, these companies were heavily against unions. Sure, there have been several cases in which workers have protested, but they have been unsuccessful due to the fact that the coal industry has control over the union. Another part that this film compelled me was the health problems that have resulted from the environment. One activist researched the amount of coal deaths in one area a year and it was in result in 500 deaths a year. Another big issue that the coal industry has introduced is the greening of coal. They have suggested CO2 compression and injection underground. However, there is major controversy if this method would really work or if it would create another environmental issue.
5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
The one part of the film that I was not convinced by was the statement that several activists were trying to change the way lobbyists do their jobs. The way lobbyists conduct their business will not change entirely, and think they over-exaggerated. Also, another part of the film brought up the issue of reclamation. The film suggested that this was not efficient and really didn’t restore the area’s environment. I do agree that the mining is detrimental, and that reclamation doesn’t bring it back the way it used to be. However, I do think it makes the best of a bad situation. The mountain begins to grow trees and vegetation once again.
6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I want to dig deeper into the greener coal mining technologies that the film suggested. I would much rather see a increasing influence and economical power in alternative energy sources than continuing the 50% of the total energy consumption of the United States from the coal industry. However, I am curious as to what these greener coaling options propose. There is significant controversy over the methods, so I would like to go further in the research in order to develop an opinion for myself.
7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
The film addresses the high school students onward. This is because these age groups can be involved in the coal industry as well as in the fight against it. As shown in the film, people of these ages were taking up the fight against the coal industry one way or another. College students were protesting against Citibank as full grown adults were protecting the environments in their backyards by lobbying, and starting or joining movements. I think the film will somewhat change how the viewers will act towards environmental problems. This only pertains to the coal industry, and I feel that people that aren’t directly affected by the coal industry will do much after seeing this movie. It will raise their awareness, but I don’t feel it will allow them to take a course of action.
8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
There were several acts or interventions suggested by the film. One was to encourage the use of other alternative technologies. As the more popular these technologies become, the more the economy will support them and encourage them. This would directly decrease the size of the coal industry. Another intervention was to fight against the companies by either lobbying, protesting, or going to the unions. By gaining political support, we can ensure that the legal system will have decisions in favor of the environment and other sustainability issues. Greener coal mining technologies were also suggested, but represented the big controversy on whether or not these methods are effective and beneficial.
9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
I think by discussing more in detail about what problems arise in the environmental issues would increase the film’s environmental education. The film never went into depth about the effects that these mining operations had on the earth. Maybe they could give more specific examples.